Tours

S.C. Teacher of the Year To Travel in BMW Z4 Roadster

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - 04/25/2006

Jennifer “Buffy” Murphy, who has been named 2006-2007 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, will travel the state in a dark green BMW Z4 Roadster during her year-long sabbatical from the classroom to represent the state’s 50,000 teachers.

Murphy, a fifth-grade teacher at Irmo Elementary School in School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, was named South Carolina Teacher of the Year last week.

“Buffy’s greatest accomplishment in education is having a personal impact on young lives,” said State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum. “She knows her students, not only as learners, but also as individuals. Because she wants them to feel valued in the community, she validates each of them from the moment they enter her classroom, and they leave her room knowing that they can accomplish great things and make a difference.”

Murphy graduated from Clemson University with a degree in parks, recreation and tourism management, and holds a master’s in education from the University of South Carolina as well as graduate-level credits from the College of Charleston. She also holds the prestigious certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and has served as a national and state presenter on subjects ranging from literacy to technology.

Her selection by a group of judges as the state’s top teacher makes her South Carolina’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year. She also received a $25,000 cash award and other gifts, including a laptop computer and a set of tires.

BMW Manufacturing Co. ( www.bmwusfactory.com ) has awarded the use of a BMW roadster to the South Carolina Teacher of the Year for the past seven years.